Device for cleaning receptacles



Oct. 22,- 1935. c. BRAUN 4 DEVICE FOR CLEANING REC-EPTACLES Fileduan. 4, 1927 `14 Sheets-sheet 1 (di @if fz ATTORNEY l Y DEVICE Fon CLEANING REcEPTAoLEs Filed Jan. 4, 1927 14 sheets-sheet 2 lINV TOR I .Y MM fw i TTORNEY Oct. 22, 1935. c. BRAUN 'DEVVICE FOR CLEANING REEPTACLES Filed Jan. 4, 1927 14 sheets-sheet s oct. 2 2, 193s. BRAUN DEVICE FOR CLEANING RECEPTACLES Filed Jan. 4, 1927 14 Sheets-Sheet 4l INVENTOR 0f.22,193s. cBRAUN 2,017,941

DEVICE FOR CLEANING RECEPTACLES -Filed Jan. 4, 1927 14 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEY oct. 22, 1935. c; BRAUN 2,017,941

DEVICE FOR CLEANING RECEPTACLES Filed Jan. 4, 1927 14 SheetseSheet 6 d] INVENTQR BY l @/d/UTORNEY c. BRAUN 2,017,941'

DEVICE FOR CLEANING RECEPTACLES Filed Jan. 4, 1927 14 sheets-Sheet 7 Oct. 22, 1935.

Oct. 22, 1935.

c. BRAUN 2,017,941 DEVICE FOR CLEANING RECEPTACLES v Filed Jan. 4, 1927 14 Sheets-Sheet 8l Fla. Z

93 jf 96, s .l .i /4/2 ,/0 i I I J .93 l f ,y i H BY i AT oRNEY Oct. 22; 1935.

c. BRAUN v 2,017,941

DEVICE Fon CLEANING REcEPTAcLEs Fl d J 4 1 2 J. e 75,9 52 14 Sheets-Sheet ATTORNEY C. BRAUN DEVICE FOR CLEANING RECPTACLES ocr. 22, 1935.V4

14 sheets-'sheet 1o Filed Jan. 51,' 1927 ATTORN EY ot.22,193`5. y -RAUN 2,017,941

DEVICE Fon QLEANING REcEPTAcLEs' Fuga aan. 4, 1927 f 14 sheets-sheet 11 nl v i V "El inw i A n VENTOR ATTORNEY oct. 2,2, 1935,

'c. BRAUN 2,017,941- DEVICE FOR CLEANING RECEPTACLES I Filed Jan. 4, 1927. 14 sham-sheet i2 Afd INVENTOR BY I ATTORNEY oct. 22, 192.5.

c. BRAUN DEVICE FOR CLEANING RECEPTACLES Filed Jan. 4, 1927 14 Sheets-Sheet l 'i IN1/wrok W UWHNEY Oct. 22, 1935. ci. BRAUN DEVICE FOR GLEANIING,l RECEPTACLES Filedl Jan. 4, 1927 14 Sheets-Sheet 14 .NN @v5 Patented Oct. 22, 1935 DEVICE FOR CLEANINGRECEPTACLS Carl Braun, Canastota, N. Y.,`assignor to Carl Braun, Inc., Canastota, N. Y.. a corporation of New York Application January 4, 19.27, Serial No. 158,926

16 Claims.

The subject of this invention is an improved cleansing and sterilizing apparatus.

An object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of this type particularly adapted for the expeditious cleaning and sterilization of milk cans or their covers; and, preferably, an

apparatus for handling both cans and covers while they travel simultaneously through the apparatus, say along parallel paths.

Another object is to provide an apparatus as already described, wherein both cans and covers proceed through the apparatus, and pass the one or more working stations provided relative to the cans and covers, in mouth-down condition; that is, with the cans substantially vertical but inverted, and with the covers at and with their can-mouth engaging-flanges underneath.

Another object is to provide an apparatus as 20 just described, wherein the cans and covers are positively advanced through their respective paths in such timed relation that, at the delivery end of the apparatus, a can is swung, preferably automatically, so as to bring its mouth- 25 end toward cover-receiving position, at the proper instant for a cover to be moved, preferably automatically, toward reassembly with the can.

Another object is to provide, in a can cleansing and 'sterilizing apparatus, means, preferably automatic, for taking a can reaching the delivery end of the apparatus, and then swinging said can through a plurality of angularly related planes, to move the can from an inverted position toward an upright position, and also to move the can laterally of its previous line of travel relative to the apparatus.

Another object is to provide, in a cleansing and sterilizing apparatus adapted to act on hollow receptacles such as milk cans or their covers, an improved combination of instrumentalities for cleansing and sterilizing rapidly and emciently a number of such receptacles in succession, while avoiding certain criticized ineiciencies of previously proposed brushing instrumentalities, and at the same time avoiding .the troublesome, cumbersome and unsatisfactory presence and action `of instrumentalities which clean by fluid action only.

Another object is to provide, in a cleansing and sterilizing apparatus for hollow receptacles, some ofl which may have a mouth 'of smaller cross sectional area than that of the cavity to be cleansed and sterilized as the result of a treatment including a brushing of the cavity walls, improved brushingvmeans, in combination,

preferably, with improved receptacle handling means for facilitating subjection of the receptacles to brushing action.

And, particularly in this latter\connection, it

is a further object of the invention to provide 5 A conveying or feeding means for a receptacle to be cleansed and sterilized, so operating, preferably automatically, that while one receptacle is -being caused to descend for immersion in a cleansing liquid container, for subjection to a 10 brushing action therein, another receptacle of the' same kind, and constituting with the rst mentioned receptacle, members of a train of like receptacles passing through the apparatus, is being .propelled along substantially a horizonl5 tal path between the feed and the discharge ends of the apparatus. s

Another object of the invention is to provide a compact, self-contained machine-unit for first `automatically cleansing, lSterilizing and drying milk cans and also their covers, separately, and then for automatically assembling the covers upon the cans.

Another object is to provide a unit as just described having a single power plant operating the various automatic mechanisms referred to.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will be specifically pointed out or apparent hereinafter, in the course of a ,description of a preferred one of the various possible forms of the invention as shown in the accompanying drawings; it being understood, of course, that such form is merely illustrative of one combination and arrangement of parts calculated to attain the objects of the invention, pursuant to 35 present preference, and hence the detailed de scription of such form now to-be given is not to be taken as at al1 defining or limiting the invention itself. That is to say, the scope of protection contemplated is to be taken solely from the appended claims, interpreted as broadly as is consistent with the prior art, and with explana tory references to the specification only where a claim is ambiguous or to be impliedly limited beyond its express terms to avoid such art in order to save the validity of said claim.v In the accompanying drawings: Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the can receiving end of the machine'illustrated with .the liquid tank shown in section; r

Fig. 1a is a vside elevation of the ccverreceiving end of said machine with parts of the liquid tank broken away;

Figs. 2 and 2a are fragmentary side elevations of the machine,`showing respectively `opposite iid PATENTfQ-FHCE Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the delivery end of the machine,this view. with Figs. 1 and 2, showing the entire machine in side elevation at the can-handling side;

Fig. 3a is a detail view of an injector used in connection with means at drying stations for the cans and covers,the approximate location of this device being indicated at A in Fig. 3;

Figs. 4 and 5 together constitute a complete top plan view of the machine;

Fig. 5a is a fragmentary side elevation of a portion of the discharge end of the device;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the main driving mechanism-the observation plane for this view being that indicated by the line 8-6 partially shown in Fig. 2 and partially shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a transverse section, taken on line 1 1 ofFig. 1;

the cans, and the other, the mechanisms Fig. 8 shows, on an enlarged scale, one of the brushing devices of Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary-sectional view taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged top plan of the cover brushing devices shown in full lines in Fig. 7;

Fig. 11 is a vertical axial section taken on line II-II of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a vertical axial section taken on line I2--I2 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged transverse section, taken on line I3-I 3 of Fig. 4, showing the cover brushing devices illustrated in dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 7;

Fig. 14 is afragmentaryenlarged view in plan showing a detail of a cover-holding means;

Fig. 15 is a vertical section taken on line I5 -I5 of Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is a view similar to Fig. 14. but showing a detail of the can-holding and propelling means;

Fig. 17 is a vertical section taken on line I1-I1 of Fig. 16;

Fig. 18 isa side view, looking in the direction of the arrow I8 of Fig. 17;

Fig. 19 is a detail view of a part of the can en gagingjand spinning mechanism shown also in Figs. 1 and '7;

Fig. 2() is a detail view of an upper portion thereof, this view being at right angles to Fig. 19;

'.Fig. 20a is a detailed sectional view 'of a part of the can engaging and spinning mechanism shown also in Fig. 19 and partly shown in Fig. 20;`

Fig. 21 is a bottom view thereof; Fig. 22 is a top plan view of a modified form of the delivery end of the machine, over that shown -to the right in Fig. 5;

-. Fig. 23 is a side elevation of the parts shown im Fig. 22.

Referring to the lform of the invention shown in these drawings, -the machine illustrated includes (Figs. 4 and 5) a pair of frame-tables .I

and 2, one carrying the mechanisms for handling for handling the covers. Both tables are held together by end frames 3 and 4, and from the latter (Fig. 5) extends Ia platform 5 for receiving' the sterilized cans. At the receiving end (Fig. 4) of the can handling side, there is a supporting grille i and a plurality of guide rails 1. Similar rails for guiding the covers are shown at 8 at the cover handling s ide of the machine. As shown best in Figs. 1,4 and 7, a tank 9 is provided for say a soda solution, into which collection of liquid both the cans and the covers are .and 12).

8,017,941 sides of certain'trains of operative connections;

lowered for immersion and mechanical scrubbing and then elevated for further travel at the main level toward the delivery end of the machine.

The mechanical cleansing of a can involves rotating the can itself, non-rotary brushes en- 5 gaging the can from within and without; while, on the other hand, a cover is stationary during its brushing, the brushes here being rotary.

The under portions of a cover are scrubbed by means of a rotary brush arrangement while the 10 cover is submerged in the liquid collection in tank 9 (see Fig. .7). The outer surface of the cover is brushed later. by a spool-shaped brush set indicated at I 0 in Fig. 4 (see also Figs. 10, 11

From the receiving end of the machine shown in Figs. 1 and 4, each can and cover before arriving at the brushing station, is given a preliminary inside milk-loosening rinsing through hot water pipe P (Figs. land 4). 20

After cans and covers leave the tank 9 station,.they are also somewhat dissimilarly handled.

A can, after leaving tank 9, is exteriorly rinsed (Figs. 1 and 17) by means o'f overhead water 25 sprays conveyed through pipes II and is interior- .ly rinsed through a central pipe I2.

A cover, after leaving tank 9, is also rinsed, at its under surfaces, and this occurs while the covers upper surfaces are being brushed and rinsed. This rinsing is accomplishing by means of a stream of hot water directed through a circular spray-head I3 (Figs. 4 and '13).

At the next station (Fig. 4), the upper surfaces of the cover are sprayed by an overhead spraypipe Il, and the lower surfaces of, the cover are subjected to live steamissuing from circular jethead I5.

At and beyond the point, each cover, and at and beyond the station I2 (Fig. 4), each can, is 40 subjected to a sterilizing process as the result of -successively passing over steam iets delivering live steam to the cavities of the two hollow receptacles (the cans and the covers). The steam jets for the cans are indicated at i6, I 6' and I6" while the jet-plates for the covers are indicated at I5 and i5". (Figs. 4 and 5), and the dry-steam Jets for the upper surfaces ofthe covers areindicated at I1 and I1' (Fig. 5).

Following sterilization of the inside surfaces I() of cans and covers, both are subjected to a drying process (Fig. 5). When acan reaches opening I8, and a cover reaches opening I3, -a rapid exhaust of the can and cover cavities, causes complete drying of the receptacles.

The transfer of cans and covers from one stage to another is completely automatic, and is accomplished by a central-power-unit drive, the main elements of which are shown in Fig. 6. Motor 20, through chain 2|, rotates shaft 22 and 00 its worm 22' engaging a worm gear 23 fast on main cross-shaft 24, carrying a mutilated gear 25, which intermittently meshes with gears 20e and -2W fast, respectively. on secondary crossshafts 21e and 21j.

The gear 28! and the elements driven from it operate the mechanisms for feeding the cans and -covers fromsstation to station along the main or substantially horizontal path of-travel of the receptacle, and to emphasize this. certain or said 'l0 bodies at the tank 9 station shown in Fig. 7, and

to emphasize this, certain of said elements are given composite reference characters including a numeral followed by a letter e.

The mutilated gear 25 results in all these mechanisms last referred to operating intermittently, while certain other devices cooperate with the mutilation of such gear in operating 6the mechanisms effecting movements of the cans in certain timed relations to the operation of the mechanisms effecting the movements of the covers.

On shaft 21e is keyed a bevel gear 28e, engaging a bevel gear 29e fast on inclined shaft 30e (Figs. 6 and l), at the upper end of which latter shaft is a bevel gear 3 le, which engages a large bevel gear 32e fixed toa disc 32e and to an overhead shaft 33e which operates a crank, link and lever arrangement hereinafter described in detail and for operatingwhat will be termed the elevator E portions of which are thus marked in Figs. 1, 7 and 8.

As seen in Fig. 6, keyed to the main shaft 22 is a miter gear 34, engaging a similar gear 35 keyed to shaft 36 carrying a sprocket wheel 31, from which power is continuously supplied to an overhead cross-shaft 38 by means of a sprocket chain 39, which, as shown best in Figs. la, 4 and 7,

,runs also over sprocket wheels 40, 4| and 42.

Sprocket wheel 42 rotates with shaft 43, which in turn operates, by means of miter gears 44, a rotary brush 45 for scrubbing the lower portions of a cover.

Shaft 38 (Figs. 1 and 7) actuates, through miter gears 45, a vertical, shaft 46 guided in a frame 41. Shaft 46 is slidable through the horizontal miter gear, 45, which latter is equipped with a clutch member as indicated at 48. A corresponding clutch member is secured to shaft 46 as indicated at 49. An end-thrust spring means is provided for the top of shaft 46 as indicated at 50. An irregularly shaped stop plate 55 comprising three arms is pinned to a mandrel 55a vertically movable within the lower end of shaft 46 'but constrained to rotate therewith by pin 55h projecting inwardly from shaft 46 and riding in slot 55e found in mandrel 55u. The mandrel is attached to the lower end of rod 55d, the upper end of the latter being resilien y pushed upwardly from member 41.

At the lower end' of shaft 46, ported by an arm 5| (see Figs. 7, 1s provided a spring-controlled tridental device comprising prongs 54 for bite-engaging the inverted bottom of a can; this device including a chuck 52 suspending three teeth orprongs 54 as the arm 5| and its bearing move down to bring the tridental members 54 to a position where they spread and engage the can rim. The chuck 52 moves with the hollow shaft 46 and the clutch member 49 engages the clutch member 48 which is loosely mounted on the hollow shaft 46 and is rotated by means of gears 45 and as the clutch members 48 and 49 engage, the shaft 46 is locked to the rotating gears whereby the shaft 46 rotates the chuck 52 and tridental device comprising prongs 54 is rotated:

Let us now refer to4 details of the elevator E, and thus principally to Figs. i and 7, noting in this connection that the frame 41 guiding shaft 46 is secured to a bridge support 56 just above shaft 33e, that this bridge is supported at the tops of a pair of columnar structures 96 at opposite sides of the machine guiding cross heads H, H and H (which last-mentioned cross head which is sup- 19, 20 and 21)l willbe later referred to in describing vthe cover elevator E") that the cross head H carries an offset arm 5| within which vertical shaft 46 is rotatable but not slidable, and that cross' head H carries an offset arm 51 forming the elevator 5 proper. Secured at its top to cross head H is a draw-bar 58, and to the lower end of this bar, at 59, is pivoted a link or connecting rod pivoted at 6 to a crank arm 62 secured to disc 32e'. Cross head H', above arm 51 carrying elevator proper 10 E, has mounted thereon a link 63, pivoted thereto at 64; and a link 65, connected at one end to the pivotal point 59, is pivoted to said link 63 at 66.

' 4In order to defeat unintended operation of the parts, due to trouble-creating or wrongly stag- 15 gered relations of the pivotal points 64, 66 and 59, during down thrusts and up pulls of the connecting rod 60 consequent upon each complete revolution of disc 32e', there are provided, as shown in Fig. 1, a ramp' 61 and a vertical rail 20 68, for guiding the pivotal point 66 during vupward and downward travels of cross heads H and H'.

The arm 5| for vertical shaft 46, and the crosshead H, are balanced by a counter-weight 69. 25 The latter is connected, by'a cable 10 passing over a pulley 1|, to arm 5|, as indicated at 12.

When vertical shaft 46 is brought down so that ther clutch portions 48 and 49 meet, the shaft 46 commences to' turn since miter gears 45 are con- 30 tinuously rotating. Shaft 46 is thus lowered directly connected with arm 5|. This arm is lowered during rotation of gear 32e, brought about at the proper time by mutilated gear 25 engaging gear 26e; connecting rod 66 then operating 35 draw-bar 58, to lower cross-head H and arm 5t. While verticalshaft 46 is being lowered,- the elevator proper E on cross-head H remains stationary, elements'63 and 65 first resting on ramp 61. Meanwhile, of course, a can has been posi- 40 tioned on elevator proper E as shown in Fig. 7. As vertical shaft 46 descends toward the bottom 0f the can (such bottom now at the top of the inverted can), prongs 54, resiliently rockably suspended, engage the can bottom, then glide over 45 the surface of such bottom toward the outer edges thereof,-a.nd nally cause the pointed lower ends of the prongs to bite into the innerwall of the bottom marginal flange, whereupon, the clutch Parts 48 and 49 coming into engagement, the can 50 commences to rotate on the elevator.

Once the motion of crank-arm 62 has progressed to a position symmetrical to that shown in Fig. 1, the descent of arm 5| will commence.

The moment of descent of arm 5| is so timed 55 relative to that of arm 51, that when the crosshead H descends far enough to contact crosshead H', both move together in a downward direction. This is'accornplished by levers 63 and 64 being drawn into a straight-line assembly, as connecting rod 60 continues its down thrust. As lever 63 snaps clear of ramp 61, the elevator proper E commences also to descend.

In the tank 9, filled with a suitable cleansing liquid is arranged a brushing arrangement including inner brushes 66 and outer brushes 69, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

The inner brushing device includes a standard wat each side of which is mounted a brush frame il supported by quasi lazy tong members 12. These members 12 are attached to a sleeve 13 upon a reduced upper portion 14 of standard 10; the seeve being resiliently slidably suspended by springs 15. The lower portions of brush frames 1| arealso spring-suspended as indicated at 16. 76

Normally the brush frames 1| are drawn upward by their springs and are positioned closely together toward the axis of standard 18. When the brush frames are thus collapsed, and downward upper frame portions 11, and thereby automatically to expand-the brush-frames as just e'xplained.

The outer brushing device for the can includes brush frames 19 resiliently supported by U-leafsprings 88 on standards 8|, said frames carrying the 'brushes 69. 29

Brushes (iB-and 69 are shaped to conform, when engaging the can, to the inner and outer contours of the latter; while the resilient and/or multi-articulate brush-'mountings permit thorough scrubbing of surface irregularities such as dents, bulges and the like.

Thus when the can,` gripped by prongs 54, and clamped between the arms 5| and 51 of the crossheads H and H', is immersed in the liquid in tank 9, and with clutch members 48 and 49 engaging, the can is rapidly rotated relative tothe brushes 68 and 69, a thorough removal of solid matter contained Within the can is accomplished, and perfect scrubbing is accomplished in respect to every can, dented or not, going through this stage of the process. i

Ascent of the canon 'elevator E takes place as follows:` First, the connecting rod 88 elevates both the arms 5| and 51, and the can with them also, until the latter again attains the elevation shown in Fig. 7. From then on, arm 5| moves upward by itself, the elements 64 and 65 (Fig. 1) having snapped back onto the ramp 61 as illustrated. Also as vertical shaft 46 rises with arm 5| clutch members 48 and 49 are disengaged and the rotation of shaft 48 ceases, the spring 58 lifting or easing shaft 48, thereby causing prongs 54 to clear away from the can and so freeing the latter for -transport horizontally to its next position, that indicated in broken lines in Fig. 1.

The parts are so timed that while a can is being made ready, after scrubbing in tank 9, to be restored to the position shown in Fig. 7, 'a cover is being scrubbed in the tank 9 at the end of the latter underlying the line of travel forthecovers; or, in other words, a can is always a station, or step, ahead of a cover; so that, when the two receptacle parts are to be reassembled at the delivery end of the machine, a time interval is provided for the restoration of the can, from its inverted position while in the apparatus, towards its upright position, during which interval the cover is receiving a predetermined ilnalitreatment. This timing of the parts also has the advantage that, if cans and covers are to be manually disassembled` at the feeding end of the machine, and manually fed into the machine, the cover for a can. and that can, may be fed in separately, and in the order stated, which is most natural and convenient.

Referring now particularly to the scrubbing and elevating means for a cover, abreast of the scrubhing and elevating meanslast above described, for a can,-andreferring to Figs. la, 4, v6, '7, l0, 11", 12, 14 and 15, shaft 38 (Fig. 6) actuates, through chain 89 and .sprocket 42, the rotary brush araumen rangement in Figs. la and 7; this equipment including, as best shown in Figs. 10 to 12, inner brushes 82, outer brushes 83, and under-cap brushes 84, vall mounted on a disc xed on a vertical spindle 86, but with inner brushes 82 8 carried on two cups v81 secured on Y-arms 88 and urged outward axially of the arms by springs 89.

From Figs. l0, 11 and l2 it will be seen that the brushes 82 and 83, and the brushes 84, are` 10 disposed in two diametrical planes which intersect; and thus rotation of disc 85, against a non-rotating cover, causes all three sets of brushes simultaneously to act on the cover and thus at one operation, or stage, scrub every por- 15 tion of the entire cover excepting only the top surface thereof indicated at C' in regard to the covers marked C in Figs. 11 and 12.

. These brushing operations just described are performed while 'a cover is immersed in the liq- 20 uid in tank 9, after having been brought down to this positiony by the cover elevator; whichv elevator, and certain of its attendant devices, will now be described.

Overhead shaft 33e (Figs. 6, 7 and 1a) rotates 25 a crank-arm 9| pivoted at 92 at its lower endto the upper end of a link 93. 'Ihis link is pivoted at its lower end to cross-head H", at 94, having an extension 91, which, together with rigid suspension rods 98 for a pair of angle iron sec- 38 'A tions 99, carrying spring-operated wedge clamps |88 (sho'wn more in detail in Figs 14 and 15), Aconstitutes the elevator proper E. It will be clear that incidental to each complete revolution of overhead cross-shaft 33e, a can cover, received 35 on elevator E" fromthe rails 8 at the right in Fig. 1a, is lowered to immersion in tank 9, and scrubbed as to certain of its surfaces, and then raised for delivery to the rails 8 atA the left in Fig. 1a,-crosshead H", and the cover elevator E", 40 being halted, by the timing of the mutilated gear 25 of Fig. 6,- each time the elevator reaches the level of rails 8 and the level of brush equipment 45, just as the can elevatorE is similarly halted at its upper and lower levels. 45 scrubbing of the top surface C' of the cover marked C in Figs. 11 and 12, which as above expained was the only cover surfanenot'scrubbedy -during immersion of the cover lin the liquid in tank 9, occurs after the cover has. passed along the 50 rails 8 to the left in Fig. 1a, to thenext position, thatindicated by\ the jet-plate I3V in Fig. 4, over which the cover cbmes to rest momentarily.` -Overlying this jet-plate is a rotary brush I8. spool shaped and, as shown in detail in Fig. 13, 55 including two complemental brush-members |82 vand |83, the .former xed on a shaft |84 and the latter on a hollow shaft |85 sleeving shaft |84; theseshafts being continuously rotated in the same direction by the chain 39- and a chain |81 engaging the sprocket 48 and a sprocket |88, xed respectively on the shafts |85 and` |84, the chain |81 passing also over a sprocket |88 fast (Fig: 4) on the same ci oss-'shaft 36 which carries sprocket As seen in Fig. 13, the lower portion of the cover, indicated in dot and dash lines, is guided,

while passing under the brushes |82 and |83, between rails 8,- which are-mere str-ips, and not angles, as are the rail-sections 99 of the cover ele- 70 vator and as are the rails 1 at the main level for the `cans.

Above brushes |82 andV |83 isa perforated pipe |89 which permitscleansing fluid to reach the l top surface of the cover during scrubbing. Bi- 16 multaneously through the jet-plate I3 below, hot water is directed against all the other and previously scrubbed surfaces of the cover.

The 'fluid-supply for both the pipe |09 and the 5 jet-plate I3 is controlled by means of valve IIIl. This valve may be a so-called whistle valve, of the quick opening type, having a spring .within the valve housing normally holding the valve shut and a wipe-lever III extending into the path of the moving cover, yso that when the cover comes into position, the valve is opened, and during the rest of the cover at such position, the valve remains open.

'I'here have now been described all the various scrubbing operations, to which the cans and covers are subjected in the machine illustrated in the drawings.

Both cans and covers are automatically intermittently moved forward and halted at their various stations at the main level of the rails l and 8 as long as required' for each successive operation.

Adverting to the can advancing mechanism just referred to, and examining in this connection Figs. 4, 5, 16, 17 and 18,'each can entering the machine is placed upon the rails I and grille 6 of Fig. 4, just ahead of the hot water pipe P, and so as to come within the field of operations of the first set of pairs of claws II3 and II4, the pairs of claws forming this set being respectively at opposite sides of the can.

The claws ||3 and II4 of each pair are pivoted II4, atV suitable intervals along the lengthof the apparatus, at each side of the line of travel of a can through the machine, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

As illustrated best in Fig. 16, when compared with Figs. 4 and 5, each claw II3 at each side of said line of travel is pivoted at II5 to an upper slide-bar ||6 having longitudinal slots II'I along each of which is movable a stud or pin ||8 pivotally mounting an end of a claw II4. Each of these pins I|8 is secured to a lower slide bar |I9.

Both slide bars are guided for endwise movement in a channel |20, carrying at intervals retention lugs |2| holding the slide bars against displacement from the channel.

In order to movebars ||6 and IIS intermitotally connected at |28 alink |29 whichis alsopivoted at |30 to a lug I3| connected with the lower slide bar IIS at that side of the c-an table I. Assuming that claws |I3` and ||4 are in the positions shown in Figs. 4, that is, in spread or can-clearing condition, link |29 is moved forward, and bar IIS and claws |I4 are given similar movements toward the deliveryend of the apparatus. The claws II4 nowmove in toward .the center of the table I; and since the movements of the claws I|4 controlthe movements of claws II3,-slide bars |I6 standing fast,-all claws II3 and II4 are thrust in toward the center of table I and contracted as shown in Fig."16 and seize the neck-portions of' the cans opposite the same. At this instant the pins II8 reach the forward ends of slots II1 in slide bars ||6, and now all bars |I6 and II9 move together for the remainder of the forward movement, which fractional thrust is that required to move a can posi- 5 tively from one station to the next. r

When link |29 has passed its extreme forward position, it is drawn back, -retracting with it slide-bars IIS and the pins |I8. This opens up the claws II4 and |I3, and they become restored 10 to their spread positions shown in Fig. 4. Asv the pins I I8 engage the rear ends of the slots I I 1, in the upper slide bars I I6, the slide bars I I9 pick up the slide bars I I6, and all bars are returned to-the positions shown in Fig. 4; claws'15 I I3 and I I4, being spread, vhaving cleared all the cans they had previously transported in a forward direction;

As mechanisms for automatically intermittentlyAmoving the covers forward from one position 20 to another, and' for halting them successively at such positions, the following parts are provided:

Referring to Figs. 2, 3, v5, 6 and 7, and recalling that the cross-shaft 36j serves, for the purpose of operating the can-feeding mechanisms previ- 25 ously described, to oscillate intermittently the rocker-frame |25, note that the pintle element for the power-applying pivotal connections |24 on the rocker frame, comprises a cross rod- I 32,

connected at one end as shown in Fig. 6 to the 30 link |23 for oscillating the rocker frame for the' purpose just stated. The opposite end of rod |32, at 'I 33, is pivoted to a link |34; which link is pivoted at |35 to a lever |36 fulcrumed at I3I (Fig. 3). The upper end of this lever is pivoted 85 at |38 to a draw-link |39 pivoted at |40 'to a T- slide-rail I4| elevated above the center of the main level'travel of the line of covers, as shown best in Figs. 5 and 7.

This T-slide I4I is held to reciprocation back 40 and forth along said line, bya proper number of suitable overhead bridge guides one of which isl indicated at |42 in Figs. 3 and 5.

As shown in Figs. 2, 3.and 7, suspended from the central vertical rib of T-slide I4I, are pawls 45 |43 which areswingably mounted on pivots |44 but which are bifurcated at their upper ends 'so as to locate below the said rib a stirrup |45 to limit the pawls to a one-direction swing only,

There are one of these pawls |43 for each sta- 60 ltion for a cover along its line of travel at the main level through the apparatus.

When link |39 is drawn forward, the pawls |43 engage rear points on all the covers immediately ahead and slide them forwardly between rails 8. 65 When this forward movement is ended, and the T-shaped slide I4I is moved backward, the pawls |43, being free to swing in a forward and upward direction when they meet the covers immediately behind said pawls, will thus be permitted to clear 60 the just previously advanced covers, and so all the parts will be restored to normal ante-feed position, ready for the next advance of all the covers.

It has already been-explained in connection 65 v the fluid supply to pipes and I2.

at the main level whereat the fluid application is In Figs. 16, 17 and 18 are shown ,the details of such a valve |41 which is also of the quick-opening type. The valve |41 here illustrated, controls 'Ihe stem |48 of the valve is depressable by a shaped-strip lever |49, so positioned as to extend an upper inclined surface |49a through a cut 1a..in a rail 1 into the path of an oncoming can in such manner that the fluid supply acts on the can at any station as intended. The cans, at each of the stations I6, I6 and I6" of Figs. 4 and 5, are similarly automatically subjected to live-steam discharges; such treatments acting cumulatively to insure perfect sterilization of every can. A

Each can, further, at the last position prior to its discharge from the apparatus is subjected to a rapiddrying'process, on arriving at the station I8 of Fig. 5. At this point the moisture within the can is rapidly exhausted, by a steam operated ejector shown in detail in Fig. 3a. The latter includes a funnel-shaped member '|50 connected with an ejector |5|, which is operated by means of steam passing through pipe |52 into a larger pipe |53, thereby setting up a vacuum action to extract all moisture within the can. Similarly, the covers, at the opposite side of the apparatus,` after their nal scrubbing at the station indicated at I3 in Fig. 4, pass through livesteam sterilization stations as indicated at I5 in Fig. 4 and at I5 and I5" in Fig. 5, and finally pass through the vacuum dryer station indicated at I9 in Fig. 5. The automatic fluid control valves at these stations, similar to the valve I I0 described hereinabove in connection with Fig. 13, are indicated respectively at IIO, IIIl", H03, H04.

At the station I9 of. Fig. 5 each cover is subjected 'to its nal rapid drying process by a steam-operated ejector similar to that indicated` -at in Fig. 3a and already described in detail in connection with the final rapid drying process applied to a can at the station I8 of Fig. 5.

The apparatus, from the elevators to the drying station, is desirably enclosed within or hooded by a vapor-confining chamber (not shown).

, Eachcan on leaving the drying station reaches the discharge end of 'the apparatus. And here the can is brought from its inverted position to normal upright position, to reach that position in time to receive its cleansed and sterilized cover.

Refer now to Figs. 3 and 5.

Each can, as it begins to clear rails 1 at thel right end of Fig.r5, is to be lowered to landing platform 5, and simultaneously somersaulted from its inverted to an upright position as indicated at I, and then laterally shifted to a position IIv yon the platform..

This handling of the cleansed and sterilized can is prepared for by the movement of theinverted can ofi the main platform of the apparatus, causing the neck portion of the can to enter a exible C-shaped supporting collar |54 xed for rotation on cross-shaft |55 by an arm |55a, having one end keyed or otherwise secured to the cross-shaft |55 and having its otherl end secured in any convenient manner to the collar |54 so that the ends on the open side of the latter are free to clip the can neck and support it during the uprighting step; such collar then being `displaced from its position shown in Figs.- 3 and 5, that is, so that it lies substantially in a horizontal plane but with the mouth of the C facing the oncoming can-neck. The cans are carried over the intervening space between the can guideway and the position where the cans are clipped by the supporting collar |54 on any suitable plate or platform, which may be similar to that shown in Fig. 22. l

Shaft |55 is a rock-shaft, operated in opposite 5 directions alternately, with intervening pauses, by chains |56 and |51 engaging sprockets |58 and |59 on the opposite ends of the shaft. Chain |56 is connected at |60-with rocker frame |25 by means of a spiral springl IBI, which latter pro- 10 vides for a certain exibility of operation of the device. Chain |51 at its upper end is wrappingly secured to its sprocket, and the lower end of this chain connectsvwith a lever |62 fulcrumed atv |63 to one of the hangers |21. The 'upper 15 end of. lever |62, which is slotted-.engages a pin |64 on the rocker-frame. When frame |25 is rocked toward platform 5, chain |51 is pulled and collar |54 is swung through 180 to canneck receiving position. At the same time, chain 20 |56 is slackened. At the instant the can is fully home in the support |54,`rockerframe |25 moves back to the position illustrated, slacking chain |51 and pulling chain |56, thereby tumbling the can to the position I on platform 5.

Pivoted to rocker-frame |25, also at the point |60, is a link |65 which is pivoted at |66 to a canl sweep arm |61 fulcrumed at |68. Arm |61 operates to transfer the can from position I to position II. y

To facilitate and safeguard the somersaulting movement of the can, a guard |69 may be provided.

Connected with the cover-feeding link |36, at |10, is a can-discharge thrust arm I1I for shov- 85 ing the can fromits position II, off the platform 5, after the can has had its cover reassembled therewith.

Each cover, reaching the discharge end of the apparatus, rides clear of its rails 8 and onto a 40 downwardly inclined extension-frame |12, but is held against gravity discharge by means of hook ended trip arms |13 pivoted at |13a to the inclined discharge ends |12 of cover guide rails 8. The lower ends of the arms |13 are connected by 45 a transverse yoke |14 so that the ends of the arms, located in the path of the covers prevent their `discharge until the trip is rocked. In order to rock the trip and release the cover, a link |15 has one end connected to one of the arms and 50 the other end connected to a lever |15a. 'Ihis lever |15a (shown in Fig. 5) is pivoted at |15 and has its free endprojecting in the path of the advancing covers. As the covers are pushed along the guides, the cover in back of the arrested 55 cover pushes against the free end of arm1|15a and rocks the cover release. This arrangement insures cover discharge'. However, in the conventional operation of the machine, the uprighted can on being swept laterally strikes the yoke |14 0 4and rocks the release and incidentally the lever Operation In the course of the foregoing description, the 5 

